St A VOYAGE TO Boon yi 



nccpssary here than in other cities, on aceonnt of the 

 numberless droves of mules which continually pass 

 through Lima, and cover the streets v^ith their dung, 

 \vhich being- soon dried by the sun and the wind, turns 

 to a nauseous dust, scarce su|)])or(able to those who 

 walk on foot. These chaises, which are drawn by 

 a mule, and guided by a driver, have only two vvheels, 

 with two seats opposite to each other, so that on 

 occasion they will hold four persons. They are 

 very slight and airy; but on account of the gildings 

 and other decorations, sometimes cost eight hujidred 

 or a tftousand crowns. The number of them is said to 

 amount to 5 or 6000 ; and that of coaches is aisc very 

 considerable, though not equal to <he former. The fu nds 

 to support these cxpences, which in other ¡.rtits 

 would rain families, are their large estates and planta- 

 tions, civil and military employments, or commerce, 

 which is here accounted no derogation to fanulies of 

 the greatest distinction ; but by this commerce is yot 

 to be understood the buying and selling by retail or in 

 shops, every one trading proportional to his character 

 andsubstance. Hence families are preserved from those 

 disasters too common in Spain, where titles are fre- 

 quently found w ithoiit a fortune capable of supporting 

 their dignity. Commerce is so far from being-considered 

 as a disgrace at Lima, that the greatest fortunes have 

 been raised by it ; those on the contrary, being rather 

 despised, who not being blessed with a suificient es- 

 tate, through indolence, neglect to have recourse to it 

 for impro\ing their fortunes. This custom, or re- 

 source, wliich was established there without any cleter- 

 minate end, being introduced bv a vain desire of the 

 iirst Spaniards to acquire wcalih^ is now the real sup- 

 port of that splendour in which those families live ; 

 and whatever repugnance these military gentlemen 

 might originally have to commerce, it was immediately 

 removed by a royal proclamation, by which it was de- 

 cliired that commerce in the Indies should not exclude 



from 



